Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

ויקרע יעקב שמלתיו וישם שק במתניו ויתאבל על בנו ימים רבים

Then Yaakov rent his garments and placed sackcloth on his loins; he mourned for his son many days. (37:34)

Rashi teaches that yamim rabim, many days, amounts to a period of twenty-two years. This time frame coincides with the twenty-two years that Yaakov Avinu was away from home, thereby preventing him from properly carrying out the mitzvah of kibud av v’eim, honoring one’s father and mother. While we certainly are not in a position to understand the underlying reason for Yaakov’s behavior, there is clearly a powerful lesson to be derived from here. This is despite the fact that Yaakov’s decision to leave home was originally suggested, encouraged and approved by his mother, Rivkah Imeinu. Yet, Yaakov is held…

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וימכרו יוסף לישמעאלים בעשרים כסף

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayeishev

And they sold Yosef to the Yishmaelim for twenty pieces of silver. (37:28)

Twenty silver pieces amounts to five shekalim, the same amount we use to redeem our firstborn sons. Chazal teach us that this amount of money atones for the brothers’ sin of selling Yosef. Additionally, since each brother’s share of the “take” amounted to two dinarim, the equivalent of a half-shekel, Jews annually give a half-shekel for the upkeep of the Bais Hamikdash. Since we no longer have the Bais Hamikdash, the Machatzis hashekel, half shekel, is contributed annually on Purim to charity. The Shivtei Kah, brothers who sold Yosef, represent Klal Yisrael. Thus, the onus of their guilt is on…

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וישב יעקב בארץ מגורי אביו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayeishev

Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojournings. (37:1)

Rashi teaches that, after enduring the many trials of his life – Eisav, Lavan, the premature passing of Rachel Imeinu, and the violation of Dinah – Yaakov Avinu sought tranquility, leisheiv b’shalvah. Immediately, Kofatz alav rogzu shel Yosef, “The trial of Yosef tumbled suddenly upon him.” This world is one of continual striving. Although the Patriarch was near perfect, his work was not complete. The question that confronts us is simple: Does it have to be this way? Does life have to be a constant struggle? Would it have been so bad if Yaakov could spend his twilight years in…

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כל אלה שבטי ישראל שנים עשר... ויברך אותם איש אשר כברכתו ברך אתם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayechi

All these are the twelve tribes of Yisrael… and he (Yaakov) blessed them. Everyone according to his blessing did he bless them. (49:28)

Changing one’s direction in life is difficult. Once one has either chosen a specific path, or has ended up living a certain lifestyle because it just evolved, he finds change difficult. Many factors are involved. Complacency often prevails; and depression, the mounting feeling that “change” is something one cannot handle or in which will not be successful, is a powerful deterrent. Therefore, we often remain in a bind, doing the same thing, sticking to the same mold – and being miserable. Horav Yeruchem Levovitz, zl, derives a lesson from Yaakov Avinu which will invariably save the day for many of…

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ויקרא יעקב אל בניו ויאמר האספו ואגידה לכם את אשר יקרא אתכם באחרית הימים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayechi

Yaakov called for his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves, and I will tell you what will befall you in the End of Days. (49:1)

Rashi teaches that Yaakov Avinu was about to reveal the keitz, end of galus, exile, to his sons, but, at that moment, the Shechinah, Divine Presence, departed from him. The Shlah HaKadosh explains that Yaakov intimated to his sons the key to ending the exile. He told them Heiasfu! “Gather together; assemble yourselves as one!” v’agidah lachem, “and group yourselves together in one congregation; one assembly, all focused on Hashem. As long as there is pirud, separation, divisiveness, among the brothers, the Shechinah will remove itself from you, and the Geulah, Final Redemption, for which you are all yearning, will…

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ואני נתתי לך שכם אחד על אחיך אשר לקחתי מיד האמרי בחרבי ובקשתי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayechi

And as for me, I have given you Shechem – one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Emori with my sword and with my bow. (48:22)

Rashi offers two interpretations of Yaakov Avinu’s conquest of Shechem. The first interpretation is that Shechem is a reference to the city of Shechem, which Yaakov conquered through the agency of Shimon and Levi. After the two brothers slew the inhabitants of Shechem, the surrounding nations rose up against Yaakov, who returned their warfare and miraculously emerged victorious. Therefore, charbi u’b’kashti, sword and bow, are realistic weapons which enabled the Patriarch to best his enemies. The second interpretation maintains that Yaakov refers to the birthright, the double portion, he wrested away from Eisav, who is here referred to as the…

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ויברכם ביום ההוא לאמר בך יברך ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayechi

So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you shall Yisrael bless.” (48:20)

And so it has become the case throughout the generations. Parents bless their children; Menasheh and Efraim serve as the paradigms of blessing. Does bayom ha’hu, “that day,” refer to a specific time? That day means that any day on which parents bless their children, Menasheh and Efraim will be their example. Horav Asher, zl, m’Karlin, interprets bayom ha’hu homiletically. Yaakov Avinu blessed his grandchildren that they should focus their endeavors on “that day.” Never push off until tomorrow what can be done today. The idea of pushing things off l’machar, tomorrow, is Amalek’s way of acting. By tomorrow, one…

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וירא ישראל את בני יוסף ויאמר מי אלה ויאמר יוסף אל אביו בני הם אשר נתן לי אלקים בזה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayechi

Yisrael saw the sons of Yosef, and he said, “Who are these?” Yosef said to his father, “They are my sons, who Hashem gave me with this” (48:8,9)

Most of Parashas Vayechi is occupied with Yaakov Avinu’s final moments on earth, his last will and testament to his children, and the various messages implied by his choice of words. The parsha opens with Yaakov’s becoming ill and calling for Yosef to come to his bedside. Yosef did not come alone. He brought with him his two sons, Menasheh and Efraim. When Yaakov saw them, he asked, “Who are these?” Yosef replied, “They are my sons, whom G-d gave me with this…” Rashi presents an in-depth explanation of their conversation. Yaakov was about to bless Yosef’s sons when, suddenly,…

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ועשית עמדי חסד ואמת

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Vayechi

And do kindness and truth with me. (47:29)

Rashi teaches that the kindness one performs for the deceased is chesed shel emes, kindness of truth. Under such conditions, one executes his duties for the express purpose of performing an act of chesed. There are no thanks, no accolades, no payment whatsoever. It is all l’shem Shomayim, for the sake of Heaven. When it comes to acting on behalf of one who is deceased, the reward is unusual. I think the reason is simple. When we act kindly to a fellow Jew, the individual, for the most part, is acutely aware that he is the recipient of a favor…

Home -> Pekudei -> 5773

ויכס הענן את אהל מועד וכבוד ד' מלא את המשכן... כי ענן ד' על המשכן יומם ואש תהיה לילה בו לעיני כל בית ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Pekudei

The cloud covered the Ohel Moed , and the glory of Hashem filled the Mishkan…For the cloud of Hashem would be on the Mishkan by day, and the fire would be on it at night, before the eyes of all the House of Yisrael. (40:34,38)

The Mishkan served a unique function. As the Sanctuary in the wilderness and the forerunner of the Bais HaMikdash, it served as the focal point of Jewish life in the wilderness and, later, in the Promised Land. The Mishkan announced to the world that Hashem had forgiven Klal Yisrael for their participation in the sin of the Golden Calf. It declared that His Divine Presence rested among us. It was the spiritual, inspirational hub around which the life of the Jew was bound up. It was the place where the Divine Service was carried out, and it was a tent…

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ויקרע יעקב שמלתיו וישם שק במתניו ויתאבל על בנו ימים רבים

Then Yaakov rent his garments and placed sackcloth on his loins; he mourned for his son many days. (37:34)

וימכרו יוסף לישמעאלים בעשרים כסף

And they sold Yosef to the Yishmaelim for twenty pieces of silver. (37:28)

וישב יעקב בארץ מגורי אביו

Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojournings. (37:1)

כל אלה שבטי ישראל שנים עשר... ויברך אותם איש אשר כברכתו ברך אתם

All these are the twelve tribes of Yisrael… and he (Yaakov) blessed them. Everyone according to his blessing did he bless them. (49:28)

ויקרא יעקב אל בניו ויאמר האספו ואגידה לכם את אשר יקרא אתכם באחרית הימים

Yaakov called for his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves, and I will tell you what will befall you in the End of Days. (49:1)

ואני נתתי לך שכם אחד על אחיך אשר לקחתי מיד האמרי בחרבי ובקשתי

And as for me, I have given you Shechem – one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Emori with my sword and with my bow. (48:22)

ויברכם ביום ההוא לאמר בך יברך ישראל

So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you shall Yisrael bless.” (48:20)

וירא ישראל את בני יוסף ויאמר מי אלה ויאמר יוסף אל אביו בני הם אשר נתן לי אלקים בזה

Yisrael saw the sons of Yosef, and he said, “Who are these?” Yosef said to his father, “They are my sons, who Hashem gave me with this” (48:8,9)

ועשית עמדי חסד ואמת

And do kindness and truth with me. (47:29)

ויכס הענן את אהל מועד וכבוד ד' מלא את המשכן... כי ענן ד' על המשכן יומם ואש תהיה לילה בו לעיני כל בית ישראל

The cloud covered the Ohel Moed , and the glory of Hashem filled the Mishkan…For the cloud of Hashem would be on the Mishkan by day, and the fire would be on it at night, before the eyes of all the House of Yisrael. (40:34,38)

YEARS

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